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No.520 Squadron was a meteorological squadron which formed at Gibraltar in September 1943. The squadron operated a mix of short and long range aircraft, beginning with the Hudson III and Gladiator II and then moving on to the Spitfire VB and Halifax V in February 1944.
The longer range aircraft were used to fly weather reporting missions deep into the Atlantic, while the shorter range fighters were used in the local area.
In September 1944 the squadron took over No.1500 (BAT) Flight's Martinets and target-towing duties, retaining those aircraft to the end of 1945. At the end of the war the squadron was also given an air-sea rescue role, which it retained until being disbanded in April 1946.
Aircraft
September 1943-March 1944: Lockheed Hudson III
September 1943-June 1944: Gloster Gladiator II
February 1944-June 1945: Handley Page Halifax B.Mk V
February 1944-June 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VB
June 1944-APril 1945: Hawker Hurricane IIC
September 1944-December 1945: Martinet I
January-October 1945: Lockheed Hudson III
April 1945-April 1946: Handley Page Halifax III
Location
20 September 1943-25 April 1946: Gibraltar
Squadron Codes: 2M
Duty
By February 1944: Meteorological Squadron with No. 18 Group
April 1946: Disbanded
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (23 March 2007), No. 520 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/520_wwII.html